Trees
Working on or around trees |
What trees are protected? |
Trees on public land
Working on or around trees
The information below covers the rules for working on or around trees in the
Auckland isthmus. Contact us if you would like information about tree protection in the Hauraki Gulf islands
or the central area.
 The
new Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Act
will change the rules around tree trimming and tree removal in Auckland
city - except in the Hauraki Gulf Islands where the rules are unchanged.
In brief
- Some changes were effective from 1 October 2009
- General tree protection remains in effect in Auckland city until
1 January 2012. This means until this date you still need council
consent to remove exotic trees that are taller than 8 metres or with
a girth of greater than 800mm (measured 1.4m above the ground), or
New Zealand native trees taller than 6 metres or with a girth of
greater than 600mm (measured 1.4m above the ground)
- From 1 October you will no longer need council consent to trim a
tree on your property - as long as it is not a
scheduled tree (ie
scheduled in the Isthmus or Central Area
District Plans)
or located in cliffline areas. The council has defined what tree trimming
is allowable.
From 1 October, we strongly recommend that you use an arborist to
trim trees on your property to avoid damaging the tree and to prevent
accidents from attempting the job without the proper equipment. |
Working on or around trees on your property
Tree removal
Until 1 January 2012, you must apply for resource consent to carry out work or remove or
destroy a tree that is protected by Auckland city's rules. When considering the application, we will look at
a number of matters including the necessity for (and
alternatives to)
- removal
- the possibility of relocating the tree
- the contribution the tree makes to the local environment.
Tree trimming
From 1 October 2009 you can trim trees on your
property without applying for consent - as long as the trees are not
scheduled or located in cliffline areas and you live in an urban
environment. Council strongly recommends you use an arborist for trimming work
to avoid damaging the tree and to prevent accidents from attempting the job
without the proper equipment.
Auckland City Council has defined the limit
to which residents on the isthmus can trim non-scheduled trees on private land.
Trimming of canopy (excluding roots) by the
resident
- no more than 20 per cent of live growth
removal in any one year, in accordance with currently accepted arboriculture
practice and which does not damage the tree's health.
By a qualified practitioner
- no more than 30 per cent of live growth
in any one year, according to accepted arboriculture practice.
In both cases the natural form and branch
habit of the tree species must be maintained.
You still need resource consent to trim or
remove trees on streets, council parks and reserves, and on Hauraki Gulf
islands.
Resource consent is needed for removing,
damaging or working within the drip line of trees covered by the council's
general tree protection until 1 January 2012.
Urban environment
The tree trimming rules apply to trees in an urban environment.
An urban environment according to the Resource Management (Simplifying and
Streamlining) Amendment Act 2009 is
an allotment no greater than 4000m2 -
(a) that is connected to a reticulated water supply system and a reticulated
sewerage system; and
(b) on which a building is used for industrial or commercial purposes, or a
dwellinghouse.
You need to meet all of these criteria to be within the urban environment. If
you don't meet all of these criteria, the ability to trim does not apply to you
and you will probably require a resource consent.
It is important to note that there are parts of the isthmus and in particular
the coastline, including Coxs Bay to Point Chevalier, St Marys Bay to Coxs
Bay,Parnell, Tamaki Drive, Glendowie and Hillsborough, where the tree protection
controls still apply and trimming is not permitted. Please
contact us to confirm whether or not the
trimming provisions apply to you.
Working near trees
Also, you may not do any work around generally protected or scheduled trees
which might endanger them. This includes:
- excavation
- depositing material
- construction
- putting in services or
- storing material around the "dripline" of the tree, which is the area
beneath its branches.
Helpful
trimming tips
- Locate the branch bark ridge
- Find A - outside of branch bark ridge
- Find B - swelling where branch meets branch collar
- Make final cut at line AB to trim dead branch.
Always use clean, sharp tools. Use secateurs for small branches. Never use hedge shears to
trim a tree.
Avoid cuts that remove the branch collar, which is the fold of wood where the branch joins the trunk.
Never cut across the top of trees (topping) as it will weaken the tree and cause regrowth, which breaks easily and can be a safety
hazard.
Only remove larger branches if it is unavoidable.
Trim when a tree is young - younger trees recover better from trimming than mature trees.
Tree contractors
It is wise to ensure that anyone carrying out work on trees on your property is properly qualified.
We sometimes receive complaints about 'rogue' arborists. These contractors are soliciting for work door-to-door and carrying out
expensive and illegal tree works.
If you receive a house call from one of these contractors, remember
- most reputable arborists will have a listing in the yellow pages
- qualified arborists are familiar with our tree protection rules. They can tell you whether you need consent for works or not
- professional arborists have public liability insurance and a health and safety policy. Tree work can be dangerous. Ask the
contractor for proof of this
- pay for services only at the conclusion of work
most reputable arborists are members of
the New Zealand Arboriculture Association.
How controls affect your development?
You may not cut, damage, alter, injure, destroy or partially destroy
scheduled trees
without a resource consent.
Until 1 January 2012 you may not cut, damage, alter, injure, destroy or
partially destroy trees protected by general tree protection controls without
resource consent.
From 1 October 2009 you may trim a tree on your property. Tree
trimming has been defined by Auckland City Council.
Also, you may not do any work around these trees which might endanger them. This includes
- excavation
- depositing material
- construction
- putting in services or
- storing material around the "dripline" of the tree, which is the area beneath its branches.
Helpful advice on how to avoid damaging trees while working around or near them is available
in Annexure 5 of the District Plan - Guidelines for work in the
vicinity of trees.
Tree rules outside Auckland city
The Hauraki Gulf Islands are unaffected by the Resource Management
(Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Act. This means consent is still
required to trim or remove trees covered by the general tree protection controls
in the operative and proposed Hauraki Gulf islands district plans:
Hauraki Gulf Islands
Section - Proposed 2006
Hauraki Gulf Islands section -
Operative (1996)
To check information about tree protection rules in other parts of the wider Auckland region, visit the relevant council's website
and check their District Plan:
Updated September 2009
